Deprived of all those aids, which ministered to her success and her triumphs during the last war, what could prevent her now from experiencing the bitter reverse of her former fortune? What policy can withhold two Sovereigns, whose prosperity is incompatible with her power, to let slip such an opportunity of humbling her as may never return? If Great Britain should be again united to America by conquest or conciliation, it would be in vain to menace her with war. America has been felt like Hercules in his cradle. Great Britain, knit again to such growing strength, would reign the irresistible, though hated arbiter of Europe. This then is the moment in which Spain and France may clip her wings and pinion her forever. One of the most respectable bodies in England told their Sovereign some two years since, with a kind of prophetic spirit, that his Ministers were precipitating his dominions into a situation in which their existence would depend upon the forbearance of their enemies. That situation is now certainly occurred. The rest as certainly remains in the arbitration of Spain and France.[12] ARTHUR LEE. [12] Although the above Memorial purports to have been _presented to the Court of Spain_, it would appear, that it was put into the hands of the Marquis de Grimaldi while he was at Burgos, and that he returned an answer probably without consulting the Court, when he met Mr Lee shortly afterwards at Vitoria. ANSWER, _To the Memorial, by the Marquis de Grimaldi at Vitoria_. You have considered your own situation and not ours. The moment is not yet come for us. The war with Portugal,--France being unprepared, and our treasure from South America not being arrived,--makes it improper for us to declare immediately. These reasons will probably cease within a year, and then will be the moment.[13] [13] This answer seems to have been a verbal one. TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA, MINISTER TO THE KING OF SPAIN. Vitoria, March 17th, 1777. Mr Lee wishes to state to his Excellency, the Count de Florida Blanca, what he has understood from his Excellency, the Marquis de Grimaldi, to be the intentions of his Majesty relative to the United States of America.